Preparedness helps save lives

Feb. 11, 2013

Gov. Phil Bryant designated last week — Feb. 4-8 — as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi, and it could not have come at a more opportune time.

Severe weather can occur in any month in Mississippi and can include thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding. Something most of us are painfully aware of now.

On Sunday, a large tornado hit the Pine Belt destroying property, but there was no loss of life.

It seems Pine Belt residents were prepared.

Robert and Itaska Broom and Tom and Gerolene Hardges were among the countless residents who were aware of weather conditions. And though in different homes — both families sought refuge in bathrooms near the centers of their homes.

The Brooms’ house was destroyed and the Hardges’ home was severely damaged, but neither family sustained injuries.

Overall, more than 60 people were treated for injuries, and 200 homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, Bryant said at a news conference Monday. However, no lives were lost and no one was unaccounted for. Bryant and other officials said that was in part because tornado sirens gave people as much as 30 minutes of warning that a tornado was approaching.

According to the National Weather Service, 42 Mississippians were killed and nearly 300 were injured during severe weather outbreaks in 2011.

Experts advise every Mississippian to have a method for receiving severe weather warnings — be it a weather radio, or one of several applications on mobile devices. A number of free mobile applications are available for download on smart phones that can alert you when a watch or warning is issued for your area.

“Mississippi is at or near the top of nearly all tornado statistics including total tornadoes, strong to violent tornadoes and long-track tornadoes,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Wilkinson said in a prepared release.

“Tornado statistics from the last 60 years also show that the frequency of tornadoes increases rapidly from the middle of February all the way through April. We are quickly approaching the peak season, so we encourage residents to remain aware of weather forecasts so they can be prepared and stay safe.”